About
Dr. Kniseley Covered Bridge (also spelled Knisley or Knisely) stands in West St. Clair Township, Bedford County, southeast of Pleasantville. It is a single-span Burr truss bridge over Dunning Creek. Its National Register listing gives a length of 80 feet, while World Guide to Covered Bridges data on dalejtravis.com gives 87 feet. The bridge is privately owned and closed to motor traffic, so it cannot be driven.
History
The bridge was built in 1867. No builder is named in the sources used here. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1980, as part of the Bedford County Covered Bridges multiple property submission, and it is one of 15 historic covered bridges in the county. Uncoveringpa.com reports that it is named for Dr. Joseph H. Kniseley, a local doctor who owned several farms in the area, including the one where the bridge stands.
Design
Wikipedia describes it as a medium Burr truss bridge with a shallow gable roof. In a Burr truss, a long timber arch on each side is combined with a multiple kingpost truss, and the arch ends bear on the abutments. The bridge is wooden.
Visiting
The bridge sits on the northwest side of Dunnings Creek Road, about 0.15 mile southwest of PA 56 and roughly 1.4 miles southeast of Pleasantville, according to dalejtravis.com. It is on private land, so view it from the public road. Uncoveringpa.com notes a pull-off with room for a couple of cars.
Sources: Dr. Knisley Covered Bridge (Wikipedia), Dr. Knisley 38-05-16 (dalejtravis.com), Covered Bridges of Bedford County (Uncovering PA)
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